Bugatti Drops Project Lydia
Filed Under: Bugatti
Just over a month ago we reported that Bugatti was developing a faster and more powerful model codenamed “Project Lydia”, and in the past month various artist renderings were going around the net subsequently. Contradictory to those rumours Motor Trend reported yesterday that this pricey project has been called off by Bugatti's parent company VW. Apparently the execs there assert that this uber-Veyron track car is uncalled-for; and their focus now has shifted to a four-door coupe instead.
This car will come with the same Veyron’s 8-liter engine, except that it will be front-mounted. In terms of performance, it won’t be a match for the super-fast Veyron, but the Molsheim-based automaker has plans to make it the most powerful four-door coupe on the market, challenging other contenders such as the speculated Porsche Panamera Turbo, Mercedes CLS AMG series and Audi RS7.
This piece of news is not something entirely new to us. Sometime in August 2007, speculations of Bugatti planning for a sedan came to light, but it went nowhere. This time around it sounds more promising, so let’s just hope it will make it for real.
The 2 million euro four-door Bugatti has been more than a project for awhile now.
the EB218 concept of 1998 could be resurrected?
Investing in Bugatti is just like burning money for VW. They don't make profit with that beast. The extreme amounts of money they invested into such stupid prestige projects would have been very good for further development of Bentley and Audi. I think the 4-door Bugatti will just end like the Veyron Targa: It won't even reach prototype state.
Audi has their own $ and funds Bentley. Both of which are doing very well. Lets face it VW can afford to throw money away, of course they will lose $ at first bringing back a dead brand, but marketing wise losing a few million on the Veyron project was money well spent, sales were up 180% last year and they have been able to assure the name Bugatti is associated internationally with the highest level of quality and performance. Now no matter what they release from Bugatti is going to sell like hot-cakes. This brand doesn't need commercials, no posters, no advertising. It's simple if you are super rich and want the best exclusive vehicle there is only 1 brand, Bugatti. All thanks to the Veyron, so if they lost some $ on it it is definitely less than any new upcoming brand has spent on advertising.
They won't cancel this project unless major worldwide havoc. I simply hope it's going to be more a modern equivalent of the Royale than just another 4-door coupé.
That's what I suggested for the VW in comments of Project Lydia article.
i think it would be a great shame if the only time a car company made an unusual car it was ONLY for the pursuit of money





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